Abstract: The ease of vaginal insertion experienced with round-edged petal-format tampon applicators can be achieved without the user comfort problems experienced in existing such application by a tampon applicator which has an expulsion end portion of unique structure. Thus, the invention provides an elongate hollow tampon holder shaped for vaginal insertion and having a tampon expulsion end portion and a plunger mounted in the holder and adapted to expel a tampon through the expulsion end portion from the holder interior. The expulsion end portion comprises a dome-shaped portion having an appreciable substantially central aperture therein and comprising a plurality of contiguous segments defined by a plurality of radial slits extending from said aperture through said dome-shaped portion to the base of the dome but no farther. In some embodiments, the expulsion end portion comprises a weakened region around the periphery of the tampon holder functioning as a preformed hinge.